Page 29 of Solan

“Colonel Solan!” Vegas pulled at the edge of her T-shirt. “I was not expecting you. We don’t have a meeting scheduled.”

“These are for you.” He thrust the candy and wine at Vegas.

She stared at them as if she’d never seen anything like them before. “Gifts for me?”

“I thought you would like them.”

“That’s... nice of you.” Vegas took the candy and wine and continued to stare at them. “Why are you giving me these?”

“To ensure you develop an interest in me.”

“An interest?” Vegas sighed. “Solan, we’ve gone over this. I am sorry if there was any misunderstanding during your induction. I will make amends tomorrow. We will complete your induction, and you can meet your mate earlier than planned. Just to be clear, I am not your mate. I am not a suitable candidate for you.”

“I disagree. You are fertile. If we mated now, you would become pregnant. You are not displeasing to the eye, although your stubbornness needs work. And you can clearly take care of yourself.” His gaze moved past her to the tidy living room. “I believe you would be a competent mother.”

“I’m not displeasing to the eye! I’m stubborn! My mothering skills would be competent!” Color rose on Vegas’s cheeks. “Is this how you woo your females? You insult them and tell them they’re just about average?”

“Those were compliments.” Solan shook his head. Vegas was being ridiculous. “Let’s go on a date. It is something humans do. You can make your mind up then.”

“A date!” Vegas step toward him and jabbed Solan in the chest. “Let me make this clear. I would not go on a date with you if you were the last fertile Galaxar in this solar system. You could buy me a million bottles of wine and a billion boxes of candy and I would still not go on a date with you.”

“I would not buy you so much wine or candy. It would make you fat and drunk. That would not be good for you or our offspring.”

She jabbed him with a finger again. “I’m not asking you to. I meant you’re too sure of yourself.”

“Is that a maybe to a date?”

Vegas’s eyes narrowed as she stepped back inside her quarters. “That is a one hundred percent, cast iron guarantee that I will not go on a date with you.”

“But I got you the wine and candy,” Solan said. “That is supposed to make you happy.”

“The only thing that will make me happy is if you leave right now.” She leaned over, pressed a button by the door, and it slid shut in his face.

Chapter 8

Vegas felt glued to the floor. Shock made her limbs shake as she clutched the candy and wine to her chest. The nerve of that egotistical Galaxar. To think a bottle of sparkling wine, even though it was her favorite, and a giant sized box of candy would make her want to go on a date with him.

And how on earth did he even know where she lived?

She stared at the box of candy. It called her name, tempting her to rip off the packaging and sample the goods inside. It was a shame to waste top-quality candy treats.

But there was no way Solan would win her over with a few gifts. Shaking herself from her surprise, Vegas stomped to the couch and sat down.

When she’d initially seen him, Vegas had felt an odd thrill of pleasure. He’d looked so awkward standing there in the corridor, maybe even a little uncertain. Then he’d ruined it by opening his mouth.

The box of candy was suddenly open and her mouth full of sweet, rich cherry flavored chocolate. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes. Maybe she’d made a mistake being so hard on Solan. She could see he was trying to figure his way around the weird ways of human dating.

It was something Vegas had tried to do herself for years, without success. Her last relationship had ended the day she’d taken the contract with My Single Alien. James had been an okay enough person, until he’d dumped her for an old flame. She didn’t miss their pathetic attempts at hot sex, or his inability to find his wallet when they went out for the night. Their relationship had been average at best, most of the time it was lousy.

That was all Vegas wanted, someone who made her pulse speed and her heart flutter when she saw him across a crowded room.

She felt tremors of those sensations every time she saw Solan. But those feelings were ridiculous. Solan had been carefully matched by their top matchmaker, Nell Saunders. Nell was like a human bloodhound when it came to matching people. She had a knack for choosing successful pair bonds. And Solan’s match was a decent one. Vegas had checked the file. He’d been paired with an intelligent, fertile woman. She was educated, with a decent background. She was better than a lot of the women who came through the space station. Why was he fighting this and insisting they date and breed?

Vegas ate another chocolate and opened the screw-topped bottle of wine. Maybe she should give Solan a chance. She drank the wine straight from the bottle, the bubbles shooting up her nose and making her sneeze.

She had been so surprised, she hadn’t explained herself well. Colonel Solan was a client and had paid handsomely to use their services. Vegas realized she’d let her emotions get the better of her.

With a third chocolate in her mouth, she hopped up and ran to the door. She would stop Solan. He wouldn’t have gone far. She needed to talk this out with him and make him see sense. Although it would be breaking the rules, she’d show him his match’s profile before his induction was complete. Once he saw her, he’d realize what an asset he was gaining. That would make him happy. That would stop him questioning the process and crush his interest in her.